Rankin takes Maryborough Pro-Am

Overcast and passing showers of rain presented for the final round of the Carriers Arms Hotel-Motel Maryborough Pro-Am.

Brett Rankin started the day two shots behind the overnight leader Doug Klein and shot the low round of the Tournament an 8-under par 62 to claim victory by three shots from Victorian Adam Burdett.

Although Rankin didn’t get off to a great start making a bogey on his opening hole, the 3^rd hole a 162m, Par 3. He soon consolidated making an eagle on the 5^th hole followed by two birdies on the 6^th and 7^th holes. Rankin played good golf through the back-9 holes for 4-under par 32, eventually completing the front 9 in a 4-under under par 30 for his 8 under par 62 and Tournament total 11- under par 129.

“I didn’t get off to the start I wanted, with a plugged ball in the bunker resulting in a bogey,” said Rankin.

“I found something with my putter out there and was able to keep it going throughout the round, I also drove the ball well which setup a number of opportunities."

“I’m thrilled to get the win here in Maryborough and I’m now looking forward to a few days off.”

Runner up was Victorian Adam Burdett who fired a second consecutive round of 4-under 66 for a Tournament total of 8-under par 132.

“I played well all day with the highlight being two eagles, one on the 5^th hole and another on the 15^th hole.” said Burdett.

"The only bogey I had for the Tournament was on my final hole of the Tournament which was disappointing, I knew I couldn’t catch Brett Rankin and I just lost my focus for a moment."

“It’s been three years since I last played here in Maryborough and the course has come a long way in that time, it is a credit to the management and staff of the Maryborough Golf Club.”

Finishing in outright third position was Queenslander Luke Paroz with rounds of 68, 65 for a Tournament total of 7-under par 133.

Professionals will now enjoyed a well earned break ahead of the next event on the Ladbrokes PGA Pro-Am Series schedule the Property & Innovative Planning Solutions Headland Pro-Am on Wednesday 10 July 2019.

Samoan favourites Peter Wilson and Richard Backwell have once again proved their dominance in the South Pacific, each winning the Invest Samoa Open and Samoan Senior Open respectively.

Ladbrokes Legends Tour favourite Richard Backwell took home his fifth Samoan title in six years, while Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series player Wilson has won three of the last four Open stagings.

Wilson closed out the tournament in spectacular fashion, finishing with an 8-under round of 64 and a three-round total of 19-under.

Leading by one stroke heading into the final round Wilson showed no signs of nerves, eagling two holes on his opening 9 to record a final round of 64 and the low round of the tournament.

Backwell’s fifth title came in relatively unfamiliar fashion after starting the day two shot behind the leaders.

“I felt we were just playing for third or fourth, I thought the guys behind would be well clear,” said Backwell.

However, when the leading group failed to break par, Backwell was handed the familiar trophy.

Local Samoan golfers finished prominently in the results with four players finishing inside the top-10 including the 2019 Taula Amateur Championship winner Samu Ropati who finished third in the Invest Samoa Open.

“Every year the quality of local players seems to improve,” said David Barker, State Manager of the PGA of Australia.

“It is a testament to the work of Samoa Golf Incorporated and the local programs run by the courses.”

Local preparations now focus on the South Pacific Games which will see twelve countries compete from July 10-13 at the Royal Samoa Country Club.

Australian Professionals Anthony Choat and Andrew Campbell share the lead after round one of the Invest Samoa Open having fired opening rounds of 7-under 65.

The pair had near identical cards, recording nine birdies each for the round and both coming home with 5-under back-9s.

Multiple winner of the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series’ Invest Samoa Open Peter Wilson finds himself well in contention with a round of 6-under 66, highlighted by an eagle on his first hole of the tournament.

One shot further back on five-under par is the 2018 Invest Samoa Open runner-up Michael Wright and Victorian Scott Laycock.

In the Samoa Senior Open, 2017 champion Brad Burns holds a commanding lead after opening with a round of 6-under 66 to lead the Ladbrokes Legends Tour tournament by three strokes.

Tied in second position are Victorian Professionals Michael Harwood, Bryan Wearne and Glenn Joyner.

One of the main objectives of the tournament is to promote and develop the skills of local players in Samoa and SGI Tournament Director Sam Sesega was pleased with the results.

“Those contending for the South Pacific Games teams are performing very well, both men and women,” said Sesega, “It should be an exciting three days.”

Prominent amateur results included Samu Ropati (69), Leo Vui (69), Nico Vui (70), Robert Faaainga (70), and Faith Vui (71) and Olive Tapu (71) in the women’s category.

The Golf Open is the final trial for the South Pacific Games with the team to be announced at the conclusion of the Tournament.

The second round continues on Thursday with players teeing off from 8:30 am.

Sydney based professional Alex Edge will tee it up in this week’s Invest Samoa Open with the added pressure of trying to defend his title as the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series and Ladbrokes Legends Tour combine at Royal Samoa Country Club.

Edge broke through for his maiden tournament and Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series victory in 2018, beating Queenslander Michael Wright in a sudden death playoff.

“I’m excited to be defending the title,” said Edge. “I’m sure there will be some nerves but I’m feeling good about my game and looking forward to it.”

Edge will face a tough field in Apia, Samoa with a host of quality players set to compete including last year’s runner-up Michael Wright and multiple Samoa Open winner Peter Wilson.

Wilson was the last professional to win at the Royal Samoa Country Club, claiming the 2016 title with a three-round total of 13-under.

In the Samoa Senior Open, Queensland’s Richard Backwell will be looking to keep his impeccable Samoan record intact, having won four of the past five stagings.

“I really enjoy coming to Samoa and always seem to play well here, maybe it’s the relaxed atmosphere, I don’t quite know,” said Blackwell.

For Backwell to claim a fifth title he will need to beat the current Ladbrokes Legends Order of Merit leader, Michael Harwood.

Interestingly it is Harwood’s first trip back to Samoa since winning the Samoa Open in the early 1980s.

In 2019 the Samoa National Amateur Golf Championships will be held in conjunction with the professional competition, giving leading players the chance to compete for a place in the upcoming South Pacific Games.

“This is a great initiative by Samoa Golf Incorporated,” explains PGA Australia Senior State Manager David Barker.

“Whilst the tournaments provide a great opportunity for our members, the main purpose of the tournament is to enhance and promote golf in the region through elite player development and mass participation.”

As part of the tournament, PGA of Australia officials also gave a rules presentation to amateur golfers outlining the changes made to the rules in 2019 and general situations which may arise on South Pacific Golf Courses.

The Invest Samoa Open and Invest Samoa Senior Open will be played over 54 holes with round one beginning on Wednesday 26 June at Royal Samoa Golf Club.

Alex Edge has survived a playoff against Queenslander Michael Wright to win the Invest Samoa Golf Open.

Edge finished the 54 hole event tied with Michael Wright at 15-under par, however, a birdie at the first playoff hole was enough to secure the title.

He nearly let the victory fall from his grasp in regulation play, after hitting the fairway on the final hole, Edge hooked his second shot left into the long grass, ultimately taking a double bogey seven and forfeiting his three-shot lead.

“I just tried to stay calm and stick to my routine,” explained Edge.

“After the final hole, I thought it was no longer mine to lose and actually felt pretty positive. I’d been wedging it well all week and just wanted to put the pressure on Michael (Wright).”

Edge did just that hitting his pitch shot to within four feet of the hole and tapping in for a birdie and the title of Invest Samoa Golf Open Champion.

In the Invest Samoa Senior Open, Richard Backwell made it four titles in five years with a wire-to-wire victory, he finished the tournament also at 15-under par.

“I love coming to Samoa, I’m not sure what it is but I seem to really focus when I come here. It’s a thrill to compete for national titles and to win four is amazing,” said Backwell

The Taula National Amateur Championship finished in similar dramatic fashion with Samu Ropati birdieing the first playoff hole to overcome Van Wright.

The Invest Samoa Golf Open and the Invest Samoa Senior Golf Open’s are sanctioned on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series and Ladbrokes Legends Tour respectively.

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